Raja Ampat

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Annabel Thomas

Raja Ampat: Wild West of Scuba Diving

Raja Ampat is still the Wild West (well, East if you’re in Indonesia) of Scuba Diving.

We’re all aware of Raja Ampat’s beauty topside, the pristine corals, diversity of marinelife, tropical climate, the unrivalled smiles of the local people – everything needed to become a huge magnet for adventurers.

Thankfully, despite its growing fame, Raja Ampat is not yet on the tourist or backpacker trails. However, visiting remote islands and communities means a lack of local homestays and amenities.

If as a diver, you prefer land-based, imagine an eco-friendly environment in a secluded area. Escape from ‘the crowds’; the continual hum of your everyday life will be replaced by birdsong, the breeze in the coconut palms, and waves on the shore. What bliss!

If you love the biodiversity part of Raja Ampat but prefer more ‘home comforts’, you could choose an upmarket dive resort or liveaboard. Please ask my Dive Travel Consultants for recommendations.

Diving in Raja Ampat

Diving-wise, Raja Ampat can be divided into two areas: North and South.

North Raja Ampat centres around Mansuar Island and the Dampier Strait; this is where you’ll find most of the dive resorts. Here you can explore famous dive sites such as Chicken Reef – nowhere is known to be ‘sharkier’ (including Wobbegongs!) or more accessible. If you are coming for Manta, Manta Sandy is best October – April. For muck and macro (although the Tulamben area in NE Bali is hard to beat), we’ve heard 12-20m depth on Saporkren Jetty at Waigeo island is incredible: Bobtail squid, flying flatworms, Boxer crabs, Colemani shrimp, and more!

Misool is located to the south of the main islands. Compared to North Raja Ampat, Misool offers better visibility and gorgeous soft corals. The highlights at Magic Mountain are barracuda and Napoleon wrasse but this is also the place where you’ll encounter giant black Pacific Manta rays. All other dive sites are now within the marine reserve meaning the shark and fish populations grow every year.

Diving Seasons

The north of Raja Ampat is more sheltered therefore it’s diveable year-round. The ‘rainy seasons’ are November – December and July – August. For the Misool area, resorts are closed June-September due to rough seas and high waves

In short, everywhere in Raja Ampat is phenomenal! Let us know how we can help you start your planning!

Dive Site: Amed

Posted on April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 by Annabel Thomas

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Dive Site Amed: A Little Known Treasure

Amed, the village, is located on the north east coast of Bali. Amed was traditionally dependent on salt-panning and fishing. Despite the arrival of tourists, Amed has retained the feeling of making it a place where people stay for weeks at a time.

Amed area is quiet with a lovely scenery. It makes a great location for 1 Day Bali Dive Trips. Conditions here, from the sandy shore or using an outrigger boat, are easy, with good visibility.

The dive sites actually stretch along the coast from Amed village (muck site) to Jemeluk and Bunutan, and beyond to Lipah Bay (Japanese Wreck site). Access to the various Amed dive sites is either from the shore or by jukung (local boat).

Popular Dive Sites in Amed

Popular sites in the area include Bunutan Point, the Japanese Wreck and Gili Selang.

Amed Reef (depth 12-22m), with many different kinds of sponges and Gorgonian seafans, is home to marinelife that includes lobsters, shrimp and goby sets, Blue-spotted rays, pygmy seahorses, and schools of fish from anthias to barracuda.

White-tip reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, Giant trevally and large schools of bannerfish, snapper, and fusilier can be found at Amed Wall (10-35m). The deep slope after the wall is rich in invertebrates with crinoids and commensals.

Bunutan Point (18-25m) starts with a gentle sandy slope which often has many different nudibranchs and other macro critters. Visibility is usually good although sometimes there are thermoclines.

Lipah Bay (3km south east of Amed), a small black sand bay, is home to The Japanese Wreck, a 20m steel freighter wreck (5-15m) that is encrusted with sponges, Gorgonian seafans and coral bushes, and inhabited by anthias, parrotfish and angelfish. The deeper slope has interesting seafans and is often dotted with a wide variety of nudibranchs.

The small island of Gili Selang on Bali’s eastern point has some protected areas with big bommies and low-lying, healthy corals where you may see White-tip reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses. The more exposed areas may have strong currents but can provide the opportunity to see large pelagics. Gili Selang can also be reached by fast boat from Padangbai.

100% AWARE Partner for More Than a Decade

Posted on March 25, 2024March 25, 2024 by Annabel Thomas

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AMD-B has been a 100% AWARE Partner for More Than a Decade

by Mardia, AMD-B’s 2023 Divemaster Internship

As a business that heavily relies on the ocean, AMD-B understands its moral responsibility to protect and conserve the well-being of the undersea. As dive operators, we recognize the critical role we play in offering the opportunity to experience the never-ending beauty of the ocean while promoting environmental and marine conservation.

To fulfill this purpose, AMD-B has been an ardent 100% AWARE partner for over a decade. We actively promote a thriving and bountiful ocean by contributing donations to Project AWARE on behalf of every student who is certified through PADI PIC Online with us. Moreover, every student certified with us receives the Project AWARE version of their PADI certification card. This allow students to proudly display their support and cherish their positive experiences for a better ocean with us.

We have also dedicated our company to becoming a PADI Eco Dive Center, supporting conservation through PADI AWARE Adopt The Blue to increase awareness of conservation issues and take responsibility for their resolution. The ‘Blue Project’ serves as the foundation of our Eco Dive Center. Through this initiative, we actively support conservation efforts by adopting dive sites, undertaking reef restoration, and organizing regular beach and underwater clean-up events.

This year, we are thrilled to share the significant progress we have made in our conservation endeavors. We have installed 45 hexagonal reef stars, providing a habitat for marine life and contributing to reviving marine ecosystems. Additionally, we have successfully restored 810 coral fragments, aiding in the recovery of fragile coral reefs. Furthermore, in our ongoing commitment to reducing marine debris, we have made substantial efforts in our adopted sites, Padangbai Beach, The Jetty, and Blue Lagoon. As of 2023, we have removed 120.325 kgs of marine waste and 129.23 kgs of coastal waste.

As a PADI Eco Dive Center, we strictly adhere to the environmental guidelines set by PADI and Green Fins. We aim to minimize our impact on marine ecosystems by following sustainable diving practices. We take great pride in our marine conservation efforts and ensure that our dive operations have a minimal ecological footprint.

At AMD-B, we firmly believe that education and awareness are key drivers of change. In addition to our conservation efforts, we have conducted community outreach programmes in local schools to raise awareness about ocean protection and educate students about the importance of preserving our oceans. Moreover, we have collaborated with local organizations to further our cause. By joining forces, we can amplify our impact and work towards a sustainable future for our oceans.